Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator may include: an ice tray configured to form ice; and a tray frame including a frame body to support the ice tray and a terminal connected to the frame body. The frame body may include a heat-generating material. The tray frame may be configured so that, with the ice tray supported by the frame body, a voltage is appliable to the terminal to generate a current flow through the heat-generating material so that the heat-generating material generates heat that is transferred by the frame body to the ice tray to heat the ice tray.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an ice tray configured to form ice; and   a tray frame including a frame body to support the ice tray and a terminal connected to the frame body,   wherein the frame body includes a heat-generating material, and the tray frame is configured so that, with the ice tray supported by the frame body, a voltage is appliable to the terminal to generate a current flow through the heat-generating material so that the heat-generating material generates heat that is transferred by the frame body to the ice tray to heat the ice tray.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein, with the ice tray supported by the frame body, the frame body contacts an edge of the ice tray. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 at least a portion of the terminal is inserted into the frame body.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein
 the terminal includes:
 an insertion portion inserted into the frame body, and 
 a connecting portion extending from the insertion portion to outside of the frame body. 
   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a power supply configured to apply the voltage to the terminal; and   a terminal connector electrically connected to the power supply by a wire,   wherein the terminal connector is connected to the connecting portion to electrically connect the power supply with the terminal.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the terminal includes a pair of terminals coupled to the frame body, and   a first terminal of the pair of terminals is coupled to a first side of the frame body in a longitudinal direction of the frame body, and a second terminal of the pair of terminals is coupled to a second side of the frame body in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein
 the ice tray includes a plurality of ice-making cells in which water is storable and ice is formable,   the plurality of ice-making cells are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the frame body, and   the first terminal of the pair of terminals is arranged adjacent to an ice-making cell of the plurality of ice-making cells that is located at a first end of the frame body in the longitudinal direction, and the second terminal of the pair of terminals is arranged adjacent to an ice-making cell of the plurality of ice-making cells that is located at a second end of the frame body in the longitudinal direction that is opposite to the first end.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the ice tray is a first ice tray, and   the refrigerator further includes a second ice tray configured to be couplable to, and separatable from, the first ice tray so that, with the second ice tray coupled to the first ice tray, the first ice tray and the second ice tray together form an ice-making cell in which water is storable and ice is formable.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the tray frame is configured so that, with the voltage applied to the terminal so as to generate the current flow through the heat-generating material so that the heat-generating material generates heat, the tray frame transfers at least a portion of the generated heat to an area in which the first ice tray contacts the second ice tray when the second ice tray is coupled to the first ice tray. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein
 the first ice tray includes a contact portion along an edge of the ice-making cell, the contact portion configured to, with the second ice tray coupled to the first ice tray, contact the second ice tray, and   the frame body covers an outer periphery of the contact portion.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein
 the first ice tray is fixed to the frame body, and   the second ice tray is configured to be movable between a coupled position in which the second ice tray is coupled to the first ice tray and a separated position in which the second ice tray is separated from the first ice tray.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-generating material includes a carbon nanotube (CNT) material. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the heat-generating material is a first heat-generating material,   wherein the refrigerator further comprises:   a water supply pipe configured to supply water; and   a water supply guide configured to guide the water supplied by the water supply pipe to the ice tray, the water supply guide including a second heat-generating material that generates heat upon current flowing through the second heat-generating material.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising a water supply guide terminal coupled to the water supply guide and configured so that a voltage is appliable to the water supply guide terminal to generate the current flow through the another material. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the frame body and the water supply guide are integral. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an ice tray configured to form ice;   a water supply pipe configured to supply water; and   a water supply guide including a guide body configured to guide the water supplied by the water supply pipe to the ice tray and a terminal connected to the guide body   wherein the guide body includes a heat-generating material, and the water supply guide is configured so that, a voltage is appliable to the terminal to generate a current flow through the heat-generating material so that the heat-generating material generates heat.   
     
     
         17 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an ice tray configured to form ice;   a tray frame contacting the ice tray and configured to generate heat upon current flowing through the tray frame;   a power supply configured to apply a voltage to a terminal electrically connected to the tray frame; and   a controller electrically connected to the power supply,   wherein the controller is configured to control the power supply to apply the voltage to the terminal based on a condition for heating at least a portion of the ice tray.